(La Porte, IN) - A woman and her two children were taken to a hospital after escaping from their burning home in La Porte this morning.  Firefighters responded to 215 Rockwood Street at about 8:30 a.m.  The two story structure contains two apartments on the lower and upper levels of the structure.

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said responding firefighters encountered flames coming from the windows and front door on the lower level of the building.  Snyder said a woman and her young children, about two and four years of age, were already out of the house before firefighters arrived.  He said they were treated by paramedics for burns and smoke inhalation before taken to the hospital.  Snyder said their conditions were not known but called their injuries non-life threatening.

Damage to the lower apartment appeared extensive while damage to the second floor apartment was still being assessed, he said.  “It looks like there may have been some fire extension upstairs but we were able to get it under control pretty quickly,” Snyder said.

An investigation will begin soon on what caused the fire.